New Zealand achieves America’s Cup three-peat as Britain's title quest goes on

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — New Zealand’s reign as the master of high-speed yachting remains intact. Britain’s long, long wait goes on.

Emirates Team New Zealand clinched match point in the 37th America’s Cup on Saturday, beating INEOS Britannia 7-2 in the best-of-13 final off Barcelona’s beachfront.

The team led by Grant Dalton won its third consecutive cup, adding to wins in 2017 in Bermuda and 2021 in Auckland.

New Zealand’s eight-man crew embraced and cheered on the deck of the 75-foot Taihoro after holding Britannia off to win Race 9.

“It is just sinking in. What an amazing day, this team has been amazing, what an amazing feeling,” New Zealand skipper Peter Burling said after his third America’s Cup and his finals-record 22nd race win.

Britannia, meanwhile, fell one step short of winning the Auld Mug for Britain for the first time in the competition’s 173-year history.

“We’ve got to give credit to Team New Zealand," Britannia skipper Ben Ainslie said. "What an amazing performance to win three in a row. In my book that makes them the best team in the history of the cup.”

Burling and the New Zealand team posed behind a winner’s banner as a fleet of fan boats gathered around and sounded horns in celebration. The team ran a New Zealand flag up its mast along with a huge white flag saying “Thank you very much Barcelona” in Catalan.

Many of the team’s fans back home had been disappointed when Dalton took the cup from Auckland to Spain in search of better financing. But thousands of fans wearing team shirts cheered the boat as it pulled into the team base, where it received a traditional Maori welcome.

After needing a repair following a crane mishap that damaged its hull at the start of the two-month competition, Taihoro raced aggressively in the final, winning the first four races. After Britannia capitalized on its mistakes to pull back two wins, Burling’s bunch shifted back into ruthless mode to finish them off with three more wins in a row.

“We had the pressure on us today,” said Dalton, the New Zealand team's chief executive. “These guys on the boat had to deliver, but they have to have the tools to do it, so a great job by everyone.”

The first final in 60 years for a British yacht ended in more frustration and with work to do after Ainslie, the most successful sailor in Olympic history, saw his boat far too often in Taihoro’s wake.

Britannia had the backing of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, who also is part owner of Manchester United, and the engineering know-how of the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

But it was Team New Zealand, and its elite in-house design team that wowed the world with its foiling AC75 monohulls, which proved that it still is the best in the game. The yachts broke speed records for the America’s Cup with velocities of up to 55.6 knots (64 mph/102kph) in the fickle Mediterranean winds.

“We were not overly daunted being up against Mercedes Benz,” New Zealand technical director Dan Bernasconi said. “We are pretty happy to be in our own little silo and get on with it.”

The America’s Cup was born some four decades before the modern Olympic Games. Queen Victoria was in attendance when the schooner America bested the Royal Yacht Squadron in the first regatta in 1851.

The Americans held the cup until its incredible 132-year run ended in 1983 at the hands of the Australians. The Swiss have won it twice, and the Kiwis five times overall, after first winning it in 1995 and again in 2000.

As the defending champion, New Zealand picked Barcelona as the venue, set the rules and raced with the challengers — gathering data and insight on Britannia and the four other rivals — while holding a guaranteed spot in the America’s Cup final.

The Brits put up a fight on Saturday, pulling level midway through, only for Taihoro, which in Maori means “to move swiftly as the sea between both sky and earth,” blocked their passing attempt and then sped off to win by a comfortable 37 seconds.

“We had our moments in the finals," Ainslie said, “but at the end of the day the better team won.”

Dalton can start planning on how to host, and win, the 38th America’s Cup.

The defender can keep it here in Barcelona, where boats glide through the Mediterranean with the beachfront and La Sagrada Familia basilica in the background, and super yachts and their wealthy owners come in from around Europe and further abroad.

Or, as Dalton said, it could go back to Auckland, if, and only if, there existed the financing that was lacking when he decided to bring it to Spain. Saudi Arabia, however, was also in the mix after it hosted a preliminary regatta last year.

The decision should be made public in the coming months.

Ainslie, at age 47, said he was undecided whether to stay in the Britannia for the next America's Cup, or dedicate himself to his other role as the team chief executive.

“I don’t know if next time I am going to be on the water or not,” he said, "but I am committed to moving the team forward, getting the job done and winning the cup."

AP sports writer Bernie Wilson in San Diego contributed.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling lifts the trophy after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates as they won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Maoris perform a traditional Haka dance after Emirates Team New Zealand c won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Maoris perform a traditional Haka dance after Emirates Team New Zealand c won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates as they won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Nathan Outteridge, an Emirates Team New Zealand crew member, reacts as their team wins the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates as they won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates as they won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emma Outteridge, right, wife of Nathan Outteridge, a crew member of the Emirates Team New Zealand, reacts as their team won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand, right, and Ineos Brittania race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand fans celebrate as their team won the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew celebrates after winning the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand races during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand and Ineos Brittania race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand, right, and Ineos Brittania race during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand races during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand races during the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Ineos Britannia warms up for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton talks to a crew member crew ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Maori rowers escort Emirates Team New Zealand boat in a traditional waka, or a canoe, ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Maori rowers escort Emirates Team New Zealand boat in a traditional waka, or a canoe, ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand crew waits for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Peter Burling waits for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton talks to a crew member crew ahead of the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup Day 6 race 9 in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Oct.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was only a matter of time before Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood hit a grand slam.

But an inside-the-park shot, like the one Wood smashed in Tuesday’s 9-6 victory over the New York Mets?

“I didn’t think it would be like this,” Wood said. “That was a fun way to get it.”

Down 5-0, the Nationals loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning against Mets starter Nolan McLean. Wood hit a first-pitch sweeper to the opposite field, where it glanced off the leaping Nick Morabito’s arm and bounded into center.

“When I saw that, I kind of just knew it was a full-on sprint home,” the 23-year-old Wood said of his 53rd career home run. “That’s probably why my eyes got big.”

Center fielder Tyrone Taylor braced himself before running into the wall before looking at Morabito, who pointed to the carom before giving chase himself.

“He lost track of the baseball,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He went after and then he didn’t know where the ball was. That’s a tough break there.”

Wood scampered around the bases in 15.15 seconds and slid headfirst across the plate well ahead of the throw for his first career grand slam and 13th homer of the season.

It was the ninth inside-the-park grand slam in the majors since 1994. The previous one was hit by Toronto’s Raimel Tapia on July 22, 2022.

“When they get over the fence, obviously I think James enjoys that more so he doesn’t have to run as hard or as far,” first-year Nationals manager Blake Butera said. “But that was pretty cool. I think everyone was pretty fired up, talking some smack that he can’t hit it over the fence.”

The Nationals have two inside-the-park grand slams since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. Michael A. Taylor hit the other Sept. 8, 2017, at home against Philadelphia.

Three of the four inside-the-park grand slams this century were hit at Nationals Park. Philadelphia’s Aaron Altherr connected for one at Washington on Sept. 25, 2015.

Now, Wood has joined that small club.

“It’s probably the biggest smile I’ve seen on his face since I’ve gotten to know him,” Butera said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals' Drew Millas, right, celebrates as the Nationals' James Wood slides into home on a inside the park grand slam home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

New York Mets third baseman Brett Baty (7) watches Washington Nationals' James Wood head home on a inside-the-park grand slam during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Drew Millas, right, celebrates as the Nationals' James Wood slides into home on a inside the park grand slam home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' James Wood hits an inside the park grand slam home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' James Wood slides into home as New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens waits for the throw on an inside the park gland slam home run during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)